A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Bresciani family of Austria.
Reg. 4648 · Austrian, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“D'azur à une tour d'arg., aj. et portillée de sa., posée sur un rocher au nat., et un senestrochère de carn., paré de gu., liséré d'or, mouv. du flanc, ajustant une clé d'arg. dans la serrure de la porte. L'écu bordé d'or. Cq. cour. C.: une aigle de sa., bq., m. et cour. d'or.”
TyrolTyrol, c. 1772
Where the Bresciani Arms Were Recorded
Tyrol
Map of Austria showing where the Bresciani arms are recorded
The Bresciani arms were recorded in Tyrol, c. 1772.
Tyrol was mountain country in western Austria, where the valleys were held by families who had been there a very long time. Old tenure counted for more than money, and old families carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
Region
Tyrol
First recorded
1772
Granting Authority for the Bresciani Arms
Imperial and Royal chancery
Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
The body that granted and recorded arms in Austria in this period.
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Sovereign of the period
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
1765–1790
Reigning in Austria when the Bresciani arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Austria
Austrian coats of arms were often linked directly to noble titles granted by the Emperor. These symbols belonged to the entire family line rather than just one individual. When a family grew, new branches kept the original design without needing to change it. This system allowed all members of a noble house to share the same identity across many generations.
Granting authority
The Imperial and Royal chancery managed all heraldic matters and controlled the official granting of arms throughout the Austrian lands.
How they got arms
Families typically received their arms through a formal imperial decree that often accompanied the elevation of a person to noble status.
Where arms were recorded
Official records of these grants were kept in the Imperial Register of Nobility which began its formal documentation process in 1453.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Tyrol.
Origin & History of the Bresciani Family in Austria
The family name Bresciani originates from the northern regions of Italy and the surrounding Alpine territories. The name itself functions as a geographical identifier, meaning that the earliest ancestors were likely individuals who migrated from the city of Brescia to neighboring areas. By the year 1772, historical records confirm that members of the Bresciani family had established a firm presence in the Tyrol region. This area served as a vital crossroads for trade and cultural exchange between the Italian peninsula and the Germanic lands. Families living in this mountainous environment often worked as merchants, skilled craftsmen, or farmers who adapted to the rugged landscape. Over several generations, the Bresciani name became deeply rooted in the local communities of Tyrol, reflecting a history of movement and integration across the borders of the Alps.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Brescia
A city in northern Italy derived from the ancient Brixia.
This name
BrescianiRefers to a person who originated from or lived in the city of Brescia.
also spelled
Brescian
Brescianni
Breshiani
Related arms
Sertasimilar arms
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
mountThe ground held, and steadfastness upon it
towerGrandeur and solidity, and a stronghold defended
armA person of action, industrious and laborious
